There will not be another vote on EU Withdrawal and the UK is leaving the EU next year. When a decision of constitutional significance is made, it is important that democratic processes are followed. That is why Parliament gave the British people the final say on the UK’s membership of the EU and why the result must be respected, even if it was unexpected by some. The Prime Minister has promised that Parliament will have a say over the final withdrawal deal.
Leaving the EU means leaving the single market and the customs union. These are the main and essential elements of the Union. The UK will be free to make its own trade deals after its withdrawal from the EU but it will also need to put in place new customs arrangements. Remaining a full member of the customs union would mean we could not make our own trade deals. The Government and the EU have said explicitly that there must not be a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The amendment passed in the House of Lords would also force the Government to secure UK participation in the EEA. This would mean automatic membership of the single market. Freedom of movement would still apply and it would prevent us from having any more control over the number of people coming to this country. It would also mean continuing to accept all EU rules with little influence over them and no vote on the final legislation. Remaining in the EEA would give us a worse deal than we have at the moment.